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Wakefield faces Angels on extra rest

Wakefield faces Angels on extra rest

By Ian Browne
/
MLB.com |

Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will make his second Friday start in a row when he opens up a four-game series against the Angels at Fenway Park. Thanks to Monday's off-day and Thursday's rainout, Wakefield will be pitching on six days of rest.

In his season debut last Friday in Texas, Wakefield was strong, allowing the Rangers one earned run on three hits over six innings in a losing effort.

"I feel great," said Wakefield. "I said that in Spring Training. I feel 100 percent. I was able to get all my work done in Spring Training without any problems, and it was good to get this first one out of the way. Unfortunately, I took the loss."

Wakefield's mission on Friday will simply be to pitch the same type of game, albeit with better run support.

But that could be a difficult task for the Red Sox, considering that ace John Lackey will get the ball for the Angels. Lackey has been lights-out in his first two starts, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA.

Pitching matchupBOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (0-1, 1.50 ERA)
The knuckleballer continued an unfortunate theme from last season in his last start, when he was unable to get run support in a 2-0 loss to Robinson Tejeda and the Rangers. This will be appearance No. 228 for Wakefield at Fenway Park, where he is 67-60 with a 4.33 ERA.

LAA: RHP John Lackey (2-0, 0.75 ERA)
Lackey has it going in the early season, a rarity for him. He says he's made tremendous strides in controlling his emotions during the course of his games -- "I've stepped behind the mound," he said after throttling Oakland last Saturday -- and the results through his last start included the Angels' best start (5-1) since 1970.

Player to watch
Outfielder J.D. Drew will try to extend his eight-game hitting streak.